F.O.B.
7.9.2015
https://www.facebook.com/crystal.lancaster.549/posts/10103541491010481
So, the other day at work, I totally put my foot in my mouth. Every resident has a key tag, this little black device that opens gates and doors when you swipe them in front of a keypad. Only, we don't call them key "tags", we call them key "fobs". Yes, spelled FOB. So anyhow, I had a resident come up to me at my desk with her three kids (more like, they swarmed around me like little bees). She handed me her two "fobs" and asked if she could get new ones because hers were not working.
One of her children asks, "What are those things called?" And I say, "key 'fobs'", then turn to look at the mom and add with a knowing look, "ironically".
Now, maybe this wouldn't have seemed so bad if not for the fact that I was obviously referring to the large Asian population at our apartment community, and for some reason had automatically assumed this Asian lady would "get" that I was making an inside joke, a joke I felt I was socially able to make since I am part Asian, and had turned to her and said "ironically" as a wink, wink, nudge, nudge 'Asians are fobs' kind of thing. (Bah! Mistake? Perhaps.)
The lady looked Filipino, but could have been Cambodian or Thai for all I know. Anyway, the moment I said "ironically" with a knowing glance, I regretted it. I realized she didn't know I was half Filipino, unless she was able to guess I was or some other type of Asian like other people are able to. Some people come through the office able to guess my heritage (or close to it anyway), so I didn't think twice.
In my mind I was attempting to relate to this lady and automatically jumped to the "fob" camaraderie and 'oh, we're in this together' mentality. I could have totally come off as a**, if she thought I was making the joke at her and other Asian people's expense. To make matters worse, one of the kids asked, "Mom, what did she mean by ironically?" Neither of us answered him.
I wanted to explain myself and say, "I'm like you! I'm half Filipino!", but her kids were talking so much, I couldn't get a word in edgewise and before I knew it, they were headed off towards the pool. A part of me was tempted to run after them hahaha.
True. I am not "Fresh Off the Boat", but I do consider myself fobby at times. I'll eat with one leg up on the chair. You'll find me often eating with my hands especially when it comes to eating rice (mmm..rice!), and I love patis (fish sauce) with diced tomatoes, rice, and tilapia. I whistle the Filipino version of "psst" to get another Filipino's attention. (Actually, this worked on Richard hahaha.) It's hard for me to spell the sound you make, but if you're Filipino, you probably can guess what I mean. It can often be followed by, "Eh!! Good-lookin! Come ober here!"
Did I ramble? Sorry. Anyway! There's my anecdote for the day. Gosh, I hope I didn't offend her!
Here is a picture of what I may have looked like "calmly" activating two new key fobs for her. Next to it, is a picture of how I REALLY felt after I realized what I had done. Foot. In. My. Mouth. OY!
18Carla Barbour, Jazzlynn Rose Salinas and 16 others
Comments
Rachel Zauber Hahaha! Love it! That's her bad if she couldn't tell you are half Filipino. She's not immersing herself in the many faces of Asian enough. I can spot a half Asian a mile away!!
Unlike · Reply · 1 · July 9, 2015 at 9:53pm
Grace Galima Doukenick Cute, fob, lol
Unlike · Reply · 1 · July 9, 2015 at 11:46pm
Paula Lancaster Too funny! I guess we all have to watch what we say and who we say it too! smile emoticon
Unlike · Reply · 1 · July 10, 2015 at 8:00am
Sheri Wendy Well written and very entertaining Crystal. Heehee. You'll have to do the whistle for us next time we get together. 😜
Unlike · Reply · 1 · July 10, 2015 at 10:41am
Kim Lee Lol! It's okay Twin! If she was truly fobby, she probably doesn't know what "ironically" means anyway!
Unlike · Reply · 1 · July 10, 2015 at 5:44pm